Jharkhand is a state rich in culture and diversity. For ages, poultry and livestock rearing has been a part of Jharkhand’s culture. The culture is so deeply embedded in the roots that it has been seen that every household in the villages has some cattle or poultry birds. Since independence poultry farming in India has changed tremendously.
It has evolved from an unorganised sector and non-scientific system to organized and more methodical, planned, scientific, commercial, and structured ways. It has progressed from a backyard farming practice to a full-fledged technological-commercial sector e.g. Layer Chicken Farming. During the Covid-19 pandemic period, we have seen a huge demand for proteins. So that consumers have started looking for something which can fulfil their needs in a cost-effective manner. With chicken and egg being a source of protein, poultry farming has shown surprising growth.
Objectives of capacity building of women in Poultry Farming
The project recognizes the potential in the villages and aims to promote culture into entrepreneurship among rural women. One of the primary objectives of promoting entrepreneurship in poultry farming in Jharkhand is to provide better income opportunities to poor women farmers and people from indigenous communities living in remote areas. Among its benefits, it can help make rural women economically and socially empowered and can address the issues of food insecurity and malnutrition. Thus, fulfilling the Goals of SDGs. Women interested in poultry production can start a business after receiving training from the Girl Power Project in Poultry which includes layer and broiler raising, feed formulation, cage fabrication, poultry pharmaceuticals, processing of poultry meat and eggs, hatchery management, and poultry equipment. The poultry industry has enormous potential to employ unemployed youngsters, rural women, and small and marginal farmers.
The main goal of the Girl Power Project is to create rural women entrepreneurs and enterprises in order to provide them with opportunities for growth, financial stability, and social status and recognition. The objective of the project is to create women entrepreneurs and enterprises at a rural level by creating a platform that provides them with an opportunity for growth, financial stability and social status and recognition. Training on Poultry was arranged for women entrepreneurs with the aim of creating women entrepreneurs and building their skills and capacity to foster entrepreneurial skills.
Conducting training on Poultry under Girl Power Project
Under the ambit of Girl power project a non-residential training was organised from July 23 to July 25, 2022 at Khunti Sadar Block in Khunti District in Jharkhand on Poultry Farming as there is highly potentiality for livestock development due to climate and biodiversity in Jharkhand. There were around 72 women who participated in this training. The trainees were motivated to learn the various types of techniques used in poultry farming such as; broiler poultry farming, layer poultry farming, country chicken farming, etc. The trainer informed women participants about the benefits of poultry farming and how they can set up infrastructure for the same. Starting a poultry farm may be challenging but it will benefit in long term. They have also emphasised the selection of the location, shelters, breed, feeding and vaccination.
Vaccination plays a major role in this type of farming as it protects from diseases and viruses. The selection of location is as important as the selection of breed. The size of the land will be determined by the number of birds the person want on the farm. The location should be ideal and free from predatory animals that could harm birds or farm structures. The shelter also plays a vital role in this. To protect them from extreme climate conditions, it is important to have a good shelter. The shelter should have good ventilation as it enables better growth of birds. By ensuring all these one can easily earn profit and sustain their business for a long period of time.
Benefits of commercial Poultry Farming
Poultry farming has a lucrative marketplace in India and has many benefits.
- Initial Capital is not very high. The business can sustain itself with minimal cost and grow into something greater over time.
- The Market share is good and has full opportunities which can provide entrepreneurship prospects to those who are looking for them.
- In India, all good quality birds are available in the market for commercial production.
- Poultry farming is one of those industries that can provide a significant profit margin. Poultry farming generates greater profit than expected because it is cost-effective. One can start with a few birds and expand their poultry company from there.
- Farmers have easy access to bank loans to start their enterprise. There are various schemes from the Government to help such enterprises.
- Poultry products like egg and chicken meat have high nutritional value. It contains all amino acids and proteins. Because of this high nutritional value, it has huge demand in the market.
Outcome
Girl power project aims to empower and uplift rural women entrepreneurs, by promoting social entrepreneurship in the poultry farming business. Thus, women entrepreneurs will enhance and uplift the socioeconomic status of their families besides earnings. The Girl Power project will further provide the marketing support needed for the marketing of poultry products and other products which will help their business to flourish.
